Creating and utilizing map channels

ABSTRACT

A system and method for displaying portions of a social network. The method can include: receiving, from a client device, a first transmission including a first selection of a first channel including at least a portion of a map, where the first transmission includes a first identification of a selecting user account of the social network, and where the first channel is configured to access a first layer, and where the first layer includes a first set of social media posts; receiving, from the client device, a second transmission including a second selection of a second channel including at least a portion of a map, where the second transmission includes a second identification of the selecting user account of the social network, and where the second channel is configured to access a second layer, and where the second layer includes a second set of social media posts; applying, by a computer processor, a linking operation to link the first channel and the second channel to generate an aggregated channel configured to access the first layer and the second layer; receiving, from the client device, a request for the aggregated channel; and providing, in response to the request, the aggregated channel for display by the client device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/577,669, “MAP CHANNEL SYSTEM”, Attorney Docketyoumap.00007.us.p.1, filed Oct. 26, 2017, the entire disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety, for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Recent advancements in computing technology and Global NavigationSatellite Systems (GNSS) have led to a movement for creatingInternet-connected devices associated with their locations. Lessexpensive hardware has contributed to a trend in which traditionaldevices that connected via telephony and the Internet (e.g., email) nowinclude location sharing. This has also led to significant technicalchallenges in the development of client software and services to fullyutilize these devices' capabilities.

As the number and type of network-connected computing devices hasincreased, there has been a fragmentation of content availability andquality among the various platforms. While some platforms provide socialnetworking with friends, they may not provide information on where aparticular friend is located. Further, current systems are notconfigured well to display where friends are located, where posts on anetwork are made, and where posts associated with locations are made.

Even adding a single letter to map pins, scaling to the considerablequantity of data shown on a social network, such as those even with wordlimitations, quickly becomes impossible. The information could becomeincomprehensible and a user may lose the essence of the postedinformation.

Thus, there is a need in the art for devices and systems that allowusers to view posts in a digestible manner. Problems described hereinare difficult to solve, and require unobvious solutions—which is themain reason such a social network has not been created. The inventionsrequire the technological developments of today's portable devicesincluding GNSS receivers and various networks, and would not have beenpossible even a few years ago.

The disclosures herein are not a small leap over the prior art, butrather a technological disruption in the social media space. A completerethinking was required to produce solutions to the difficult problemspresented herein. Creating such a platform made for mobile devices withlimited screen space is even more difficult, due to space limitations.This is compounded by the fact that it's difficult to convey contextualand emotional information with few words, and maps typically have littlespace to convey information. As such, segmenting relevant information invarious manners allows users to more easily digest social media postsand other information presented to them.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a system for providinglocation information on a social network. The system can include: acomputer processor; and a social mapping module executing on thecomputer processor and configured to enable the computer processor to:receive, from a client device, a first transmission including a firstselection of a first channel including at least a portion of a map,where the first transmission includes a first identification of aselecting user account of the social network, and where the firstchannel is configured to access a first layer, and where the first layerincludes a first set of social media posts; receive, from the clientdevice, a second transmission including a second selection of a secondchannel including at least a portion of a map, where the secondtransmission includes a second identification of the selecting useraccount of the social network, and where the second channel isconfigured to access a second layer, and where the second layer includesa second set of social media posts; apply, by the computer processor, alinking operation to link the first channel and the second channel togenerate an aggregated channel configured to access the first layer andthe second layer; receive, from the client device, a request for theaggregated channel; and provide, in response to the request, theaggregated channel for display by the client device.

In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a method for displayingportions of a social network. The method can include: receiving, from aclient device, a first transmission including a first selection of afirst channel including at least a portion of a map, where the firsttransmission includes a first identification of a selecting user accountof the social network, and where the first channel is configured toaccess a first layer, and where the first layer includes a first set ofsocial media posts; receiving, from the client device, a secondtransmission including a second selection of a second channel includingat least a portion of a map, where the second transmission includes asecond identification of the selecting user account of the socialnetwork, and where the second channel is configured to access a secondlayer, and where the second layer includes a second set of social mediaposts; applying, by a computer processor, a linking operation to linkthe first channel and the second channel to generate an aggregatedchannel configured to access the first layer and the second layer;receiving, from the client device, a request for the aggregated channel;and providing, in response to the request, the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device.

In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium including a plurality of instructionsfor providing location information on a social network. The instructionscan be configured to execute on at least one computer processor toenable the computer processor to: receive, from a client device, a firsttransmission including a first selection of a first channel including atleast a portion of a map, where the first transmission includes a firstidentification of a selecting user account of the social network, andwhere the first channel is configured to access a first layer, and wherethe first layer includes a first set of social media posts; receive,from the client device, a second transmission including a secondselection of a second channel including at least a portion of a map,where the second transmission includes a second identification of theselecting user account of the social network, and where the secondchannel is configured to access a second layer, and where the secondlayer includes a second set of social media posts; apply, by thecomputer processor, a linking operation to link the first channel andthe second channel to generate an aggregated channel configured toaccess the first layer and the second layer; receive, from the clientdevice, a request for the aggregated channel; and provide, in responseto the request, the aggregated channel for display by the client device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way oflimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate block diagrams of exemplary systems, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate block diagrams of exemplary systems, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate exemplary client devices, in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary post, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5-6 illustrate exemplary client device displays, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrates an example form, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary process, in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate exemplary schematic diagrams of a system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a client device, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing system, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific embodiments will now be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures aredenoted by like reference numerals for consistency. In the followingdetailed description of embodiments, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of theinvention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart that the invention can be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known features have not been described indetail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

In general, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method andsystem for aggregating, delivering, and/or creating visualizations ofcontent in a social-media/location-based content platform. As describedherein, mobile applications may send and receive content in real time toand from components of the social-media/location-based content platform.

For example, a user may open an application and view social media posts(or posts), which may appear as a symbol and/or text on a map. Posts mayalso include other media such as images.

Social media networks, as described herein, may utilize a hierarchy togroup social media posts. Social media posts may be part of a layer,which is a term used herein to describe a group of social media posts.Next, a layer may be part of a channel, which may include a group oflayers. Lastly, a channel may be part of an atlas, which may be a groupof channels.

In other words, a social-media system as described herein may comprise aset of user profiles which can each include a set of atlases, each atlascan include a set of channels, each channel can include a set of layers,and each layer can include a set of social media posts.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example system 100. System 100 may include useraccounts 110-1, 110-2, and 110-N. It should be understood by one ofskill in the art that, in some cases, more user accounts (or atlases,channels, layers, social media posts, and post attributes) than threemay exist—which is why element numbers included in FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2Cmay show a first element, a second element, and then an N^(th) element.

User account 110-1 may include atlases 120-1, 120-2, and 120-N; useraccount 110-2 may include atlases 121-1, 121-2, and 121-N; and useraccount 110-N may include atlases 122-1, 122-2, and 122-N (e.g., one ormore atlases may be assigned to one or more user accounts). In someembodiments, atlases may not be included within user accounts (e.g., anatlas may not be assigned to a specific user account). In other words,in some embodiments atlases may exist in system 100 (e.g., as a datastructure), and be accessible by user accounts while not being includedin one. In various examples, a user account may access one or moreatlases, or may include one or more accesses and/or access one or moreatlases it doesn't include that may be included in another user accountor may not be included in any user account. In some embodiments, a useraccount may combine atlases and/or access information included in one ormore atlases simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, various useraccounts (e.g., users) may create, edit, modify and/or delete one ormore atlases (e.g., via a form) regardless of whether the atlas isincluded in that user account, included in another user account,combined with another atlas, and/or not included in a user account.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example atlas 120. Atlas 120 may include channels130-1, 130-2, and 130-N (e.g., one or more channels may be assigned toone or more user accounts and/or channels). In some embodiments, achannel may be referred to as a map, and simply include a map. In someembodiments, channels may not be included within atlases (e.g., achannel may not be assigned to a specific user account and/or atlas). Inother words, in some embodiments channels may exist in system 100 (e.g.,as a data structure), and be accessible by user accounts, atlases,layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes while not beingincluded in one (e.g., an atlas). In various examples, user accounts,atlases, layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes may accessone or more channels, or an atlas may include one or more channelsand/or access one or more channels it doesn't include that may beincluded in another atlas or may not be included in any atlas, useraccount, etc. In some embodiments, a user account and/or an atlas maycombine channels and/or access information included in one or morechannels simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, various useraccounts (e.g., users) and/or atlases may create, edit, modify and/ordelete one or more channels (e.g., via a form) regardless of whether thechannel is included in that user account and/or atlas, included inanother user account and/or atlas, combined with another channel, and/ornot included in a user account and/or atlas.

Channel 130-1 may include layers 140-1, 140-2, and 140-3; channel 130-2may include layers 141-1, 141-2, and 141-N; and channel 130-N mayinclude layers 142-1, 142-2, and 142-N (e.g., one or more layers may beassigned to one or more user accounts, atlases, and/or channels). Insome embodiments, layers may not be included within user accounts,atlases, and/or channels (e.g., a layer may not be assigned to aspecific user account, atlas, and/or channel). In other words, in someembodiments user accounts may exist in system 100 (e.g., as a datastructure), and be accessible by user accounts, atlases, channels,social media posts, and/or post attributes while not being included inone (e.g., a channel). In various examples, user accounts, atlases,channels, social media posts, and/or post attributes may access one ormore layers, or a channel may include one or more layers and/or accessone or more layers it doesn't include that may be included in anotherchannel or may not be included in any channel, atlas, user account, etc.In some embodiments, a user account, atlas, and/or channel may combinelayers and/or access information included in one or more layerssimultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, various user accounts(e.g., users), atlases, and/or channels may create, edit, modify and/ordelete one or more layers (e.g., via a form) regardless of whether thelayer is included in that user account, atlas, and/or channel, includedin another user account, atlas, and/or channel, combined with anotherlayer, and/or not included in a user account, atlas, and/or channel.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example layer 140. Layer 140 may include socialmedia posts 150-1, 150-2, and 150-N (e.g., one or more social mediaposts may be assigned to one or more user accounts, atlases, channels,and/or layers). In some embodiments, social media posts may not beincluded within user accounts, atlases, channels and/or layers (e.g., asocial media post may not be assigned to a specific user account, atlas,channel, and/or layer). In other words, in some embodiments social mediaposts may exist in system 100 (e.g., as a data structure), and beaccessible by user accounts, atlases, channels, layers, and/or postattributes while not being included in one (e.g., a layer). In variousexamples, user accounts, atlases, channels, layers, and/or postattributes may access one or more social media posts, or a layer mayinclude one or more social media posts and/or access one or more socialmedia posts it doesn't include that may be included in another layer ormay not be included in any layer, channel, atlas, user account, etc. Insome embodiments, a user account, atlas, channel, and/or layer maycombine social media posts and/or access information included in one ormore social media posts simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments,various user accounts (e.g., users), atlases, channels, and/or layersmay create, edit, modify and/or delete one or more social media posts(e.g., via a form) regardless of whether the social media post isincluded in that user account, atlas, channel, and/or layer, included inanother user account, atlas, channel, and/or layer, combined withanother social media post, and/or not included in a user account, atlas,channel, and/or layer.

Social media post 150-1 may include post attributes 160-1, 160-2, and160-3; social media post 150-2 may include post attributes 161-1, 161-2,and 161-N; and social media post 150-N may include post attributes162-1, 162-2, and 162-N (e.g., one or more post attributes may beassigned to one or more user accounts, atlases, channels, layers, and/orsocial media accounts). A post attribute may include, but is not limitedto: text, an image, a video, a symbol, an emoji, a form, a button, aslide bar, a link, a document, an embedded image, an embedded video,audio, and information associated with a user profile, atlas, channel,layer, and/or social media post. In some embodiments, post attributesmay not be included within social media posts, atlases, channels and/orlayers (e.g., a post attribute may not be assigned to a specific useraccount, atlas, channel, layer, and/or social media post). In otherwords, in some embodiments post attributes may exist in system 100(e.g., as a data structure), and be accessible by user accounts,atlases, channels, layers, and/or social media posts while not beingincluded in one (e.g., a social media post). In various examples, useraccounts, atlases, channels, layers, and/or social media posts mayaccess one or more post attributes, or a social media post may includeone or more post attributes and/or access one or more post attributes itdoesn't include that may be included in another social media post or maynot be included in any social media post, layer, channel, atlas, useraccount, etc. In some embodiments, a user account, atlas, channel,layer, and/or social media post may combine post attributes and/oraccess information included in one or more post attributessimultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, various user accounts(e.g., users), atlases, channels, layers and/or social media posts maycreate, edit, modify and/or delete one or more post attributes (e.g.,via a form) regardless of whether the post attribute is included in thatuser account, atlas, channel, layer and/or social media post, includedin another user account, atlas, channel, layer and/or social media post,combined with another post attribute, and/or not included in a useraccount, atlas, channel, layer, and/or social media post.

In some embodiments, any one or more user accounts, atlases, channels,layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes may create, edit,modify, and/or delete any other one or more user accounts, atlases,channels, layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes. Forexample, any user may be able to edit a channel, wherein the channeldoes not belong to any one user. In another example, any user may edit asocial media post, wherein the social media post belongs to one or moreusers. In some embodiments, users (e.g., user accounts) may havedifferent privilege levels (e.g., a user account may be an administratorof one or more atlas, channel, layer social media post and/or postattribute). Based on a user accounts privilege level, it may be able toadd, edit, and/or delete one or more user accounts, atlases, channels,layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes, whereas a useraccount with a different privilege level (e.g., a lower level) may onlybe able to perform a subset or none of the operations (add, edit, and/ordelete, for example).

The difference between a system, a user account, an atlas, a channel, alayer, a social media post, and a post attribute will be discussedbelow.

As described above, a user may access a social-media/location-basedcontent platform using their mobile device.

In various embodiments, systems described herein may be partiallysocial-media-type networks (e.g., wherein a user is connected to one ormore first-level users, second-level users, third-level users, etc., aswith Facebook™, LinkedIn™ Snapchat™, or Quora™). A user (also referredto as a user profile) may be connected to some users, while notconnected to others. If a user is connected to a user, that connectionis considered a first-level connection. Regardless of whether a user isa first-level connection with another user or not, in variousembodiments the user may access atlases, channels, layers, social mediaposts, and post attributes belonging to another user. In someembodiments, content from third party sources (e.g., Facebook™, Google™,Twitter™, Yelp™, another user) may be included in an atlas, channel,layer, social media post, and/or post attribute created by one or moreusers. In some embodiments, users may interact (e.g., call, chat) withother users by accessing one or more atlases, channels, layers, socialmedia posts, and/or post attributes. For example, two users may chatwith each other if they are accessing the same channel.

FIG. 2A illustrates system 200. System 200 may include user accounts210-1, 210-2, and 210-N.

User account 210-1 may include atlases 220-1, 220-2, and 220-N; useraccount 210-2 may include atlases 221-1, 221-2, and 221-N; and useraccount 210-N may include atlases 222-1, 222-2, and 222-N.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, various user accounts mayaccess atlases included in other user accounts. For instance, as shownin FIG. 2A, user account 210-1 may access atlas 221-1, user account210-2 may access atlas 222-2, and user account 210-N may access atlas220-N. In some embodiments, user profiles may access other user profiles(e.g., link to them (statically and/or dynamically), include informationincluded in them), and atlases may access other atlases (e.g., link tothem (statically and/or dynamically), include information included inthem).

Although not shown, it should be understood that atlases may accesschannels included in other atlases in a similar manner that useraccounts may access atlases included in other user accounts.

FIG. 2B illustrates atlas 220. Atlas 220 may include channels 230-1,230-2, and 230-N.

Channel 230-1 may include layers 240-1, 240-2, and 240-N; channel 230-2may include layers 241-1, 241-2, and 241-N; and channel 230-N mayinclude layers 242-1, 242-2, and 242-N.

As shown in FIG. 2B, in some embodiments, various channels may accesslayers included in other channels. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2B,channel 230-1 may access layer 241-1, channel 230-2 may access layer242-2, and channel 230-N may access layer 240-N. In some embodiments,channels may access other channels (e.g., link to them (staticallyand/or dynamically), include information included in them), and layersmay access other layers (e.g., link to them (statically and/ordynamically), include information included in them).

Although not shown, it should be understood that layers may accesssocial media posts included in other layers in a similar manner thatchannels may access layers in other channels.

FIG. 2C illustrates layer 240. Layer 240 may include Social Media Posts250-1, 250-2, and 250-N.

Social media post 250-1 may include post attributes 260-1, 260-2, and260-N; social media post 250-2 may include post attributes 261-1, 261-2,and 261-N; and social media post 250-N may include post attributes262-1, 262-2, and 262-N.

As shown in FIG. 2C, in some embodiments, various social media posts mayaccess post attributes included in other social media posts. Forinstance, as shown in FIG. 2C, social media post 250-1 may access postattribute 261-1, social media post 250-2 may access post attribute262-2, and social media post 250-N may access post attribute 260-N. Insome embodiments, social media posts may access other social media posts(e.g., link to them (statically and/or dynamically), include informationincluded in them), and post attributes may access other post attributes(e.g., link to them (statically and/or dynamically), include informationincluded in them).

In some embodiments, maps, social media posts (or symbols representingsocial media posts), locations corresponding to social media posts, andpost attributes may be displayed on a client device based on attributesof and/or information included in one or more user profiles, atlases,channels, and/or layers. In some embodiments, a linked list may be usedto store such information.

Accordingly, a first user account may access a post attribute belongingto a second user, which may be accessed by a post belonging to a thirduser, which may be accessed by a layer belonging to a fourth user, whichmay be accessed by a channel belonging to a fifth user, which may beaccessed by an atlas belonging to a sixth user. Further, the atlasbelonging to the sixth user may be accessed by the first user.

As one example, a user account belonging to Adam may want to determine atime that a Japanese restaurant is open and display that information onhis client device. To obtain that information, a system may cause one ofAdam's atlases (e.g., Adam's New York atlas) to access one of Adam'schannels (e.g., Adam's New York Food channel), which may access one ofAdam's layers (e.g., Adam's New York Japanese Food layer), which mayaccess one of Adam's social media posts (e.g., Adam's New York JapaneseFood Nobu Sushi social media post layer), which may access one of Adam'spost attributes (e.g., Adam's New York Japanese Food Nobu Sushi Hourspost attribute). Here, Adam's post attributes (e.g., Adam's New YorkJapanese Food Nobu Sushi Hours post attribute) may be accessed toretrieve the hours of the Japanese restaurant Nobu Sushi in New York,which may be displayed on Adam's client device (e.g., as text and/or asymbol on a map).

As one example, Adam may want to determine a time that a Mexicanrestaurant is open and display that information on his client device. Toobtain that information, a system may cause Adam's user account toaccess one of Betty's atlases (e.g., Betty's California atlas), whichmay access one of Carlos's channels (e.g., Carlos's California Foodchannel), which may access one of Daniel's layers (e.g., Daniel'sCalifornia Mexican Food layer), which may access one of Elliot's socialmedia posts (e.g., Elliot's California Mexican Food Tico's Tacos socialmedia post layer), which may access one of Fred's post attributes (e.g.,Fred's California Mexican Food Tico's Tacos Hours post attribute). Here,Fred's post attributes (e.g., Fred's California Mexican Food Tico'sTacos Hours post attribute) may be accessed to retrieve the hours of theMexican restaurant Tico's Tacos, which may be displayed on Adam's clientdevice (e.g., as text and/or a symbol on a map).

As one example, Adam may want to view all Korean restaurants in Chicagoon a map. In this example:

(1) Adam's user account may access Betty and Carlos's atlases (e.g.,Betty's Chicago atlas and Carlos's Chicago atlas);

(2) Betty's Chicago atlas may access Daniel and Elliot's channels (e.g.,Daniel's Chicago Food channel and Elliot's Chicago Food channel), andCarlos's Chicago atlas may access Fred and George's channels (e.g.,Fred's Chicago Food channel and George's Chicago Food channel);

(3) Daniel's Chicago Food channel may access Henry and Isaac's layers(e.g., Henry's Chicago Korean Food layer and Isaac's Chicago Korean Foodlayer), Elliot's Chicago Food channel may access John and Katherine'slayers (e.g., John's Chicago Korean Food layer and Katherine's ChicagoKorean Food layer), Fred's Chicago Food channel may access Louis andManny's layers (e.g., Louis's Chicago Korean Food layer and Manny'sChicago Korean Food layer), and George's Chicago Food channel may accessNathan and Owen's layers (e.g., Nathan's Chicago Korean Food layer andOwen's Chicago Korean Food layer); and

(4) Henry's Chicago Korean Food layer may access Paul and Quincy'ssocial media posts (e.g., Paul's Chicago Korean Food Burnt RiceRestaurant social media post and Quincy's Chicago Korean Food Q PotRestaurant social media post), Isaac's Chicago Korean Food layer mayaccess Robert and Steve's social media posts (e.g., Robert's ChicagoKorean Food Hanul Restaurant social media post and Steve's ChicagoKorean Food To Bang Restaurant social media post), John's Chicago KoreanFood layer may access Thomas and Ulysses' social media posts (e.g.,Robert's Chicago Korean Food Enjoy Seoul Restaurant social media postand Steve's Chicago Korean Food Gen Korean Restaurant social mediapost), Katherine's Chicago Korean Food layer may access Vivian andWendy's social media posts (e.g., Vivian's Chicago Korean Food Heart ofSeoul Restaurant social media post and Wendy's Chicago Korean Food TofuHouse Restaurant social media post), Louis's Chicago Korean Food layermay access Yolanda and Zeus's social media posts (e.g., Yolanda'sChicago Korean Food Danbi Korean Food Restaurant social media post andWendy's Chicago Korean Food Korean BBQ Restaurant social media post),Manny's Chicago Korean Food layer may access Ariel and Barnaby's socialmedia posts (e.g., Ariel's Chicago Korean Food Korean Kitchen Restaurantsocial media post and Barnaby's Chicago Korean Food Yummy TofuRestaurant social media post), Nathan's Chicago Korean Food layer mayaccess Charlie and Debra's social media posts (e.g., Charlie's ChicagoKorean Food Omagari Restaurant social media post and Debra's ChicagoKorean Food YakiniQ Restaurant social media post), and Owen's ChicagoKorean Food layer may access Ezekiel and Frank's social media posts(e.g., Ezekiel's Chicago Korean Food Beque Korean Grill Restaurantsocial media post and Frank's Chicago Korean Food K zzang Restaurantsocial media post). Here, Paul, Quincy, Robert, Steve, Thomas, Ulysses,Vivian, Wendy, Yolanda, Zeus, Ariel, Barnaby, Charlie, Debra, Ezekial,and Frank's social media posts may be accessed to show Burnt RiceRestaurant, Q Pot Restaurant, Hanul Restaurant, To Bang Restaurant,Enjoy Seoul Restaurant, Gen Korean Restaurant, Heart of SeoulRestaurant, Tofu House Restaurant, Danbi Korean Food Restaurant, KoreanBBQ Restaurant, Korean Kitchen Restaurant, Yummy Tofu Restaurant,Omagari Restaurant, YakiniQ Restaurant, Beque Korean Grill Restaurant,and K zzang Restaurant on a map on Adam's client device (e.g., as textand/or a symbol on a map).

Accordingly, as should be understood by one skilled in the art, variousmodules included in one module of a system can access various modulesincluded in another module of a system (which may include hundreds,thousands, millions, and/or billions of modules). Moreover, variousmodules can access third party sources (e.g., Twitter™, Instagram™) andcategorize them as and/or include them in atlases, channels, and/orlayers and display received information along with other social mediaposts and/or post attributes. Moreover, various social media posts maybe considered structured herein, whereas other social media networks(regardless of including a map or not) typically include posts that arenot structured.

As described throughout the instant disclosure, a user may be able tocurate their own maps using atlases, channels, layers, social mediaposts, and/or post attributes. For example, a user may create aplurality of atlases, channels, layers, social media posts, and/or postattributes which may, or may not, be combined to sus out venues and/oractivities they may not have otherwise known about.

In one example, a user can create an atlas, channel, and/or layerassociated with Japanese culture. At the same time, that user may havean atlas, channel, and/or layer for bars, or even karaoke bars. In sucha case, a system may be configured to receive input that causes atlases,channels, and/or layers to interact with each other (e.g., determine anactivity/location that the two atlases, channels, and/or layers have incommon). In the example described above, a user causes a device tocombine Japanese Culture and Karaoke bars, in which case a map may showa user various Karaoke bars around a city. In some embodiments, a usermay have a third atlas, channel, and/or layer or more, which mayindicate that a user is interested in private places, or after-hourclubs. In such a case, a system may further filter out Karaoke bars thatare not open late or that are too busy.

In other words, in various embodiments, atlases, channels, layers,social media posts, and/or post attributes allow users to curate and/ormoderate topical social maps (e.g., embodiments described herein allowusers to create atlases, channels, layers, social media posts, and/orpost attributes that are associated with a social network associatedwith map visualizations). Atlases, channels, layers, social media posts,and/or post attributes described herein can be created for any purposeor need. For example, atlases, channels, layers, social media posts,and/or post attributes may cause the creation of a map (e.g., cause aportion of land to be shown) with one or more social media postsoverlaying land on a map. The social media posts overlaying portions ofa map may be determined by attributes of one or more atlases, channels,layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes.

In one example,

(1) an first atlas, channel, and/or layer may include posts indicatinglocations of Mexican restaurants,

(2) a second atlas, channel, and/or layer may include any/all/somesocial media posts made by first-level connections of a user account ina social network, and

(3) a third an atlas, channel, and/or layer may include posts indicatingany/all/some locations open before 9:00 a.m.

In various embodiments described herein, a user may select the first,second, and third atlases, channels, and/or layers, and see only socialmedia posts made by first-level connections indicating locations ofMexican restaurants that are open before 9:00 a.m. In some embodiments,these atlases, channels, and/or layers may be automatically applied(e.g., a set of social media posts (or a representation thereof) basedon these atlases, channels, and/or layers may be displayed) when a useropens an application and/or map, and a user may simply add additionalatlases, channels, and/or layers to filter out (or include more) socialmedia posts, such as restaurants that serve alcohol before 9:00 a.m.

By adding one atlas, channel, and/or layer onto another, a user may beable to predetermine their perfect day/night/excursion based on avariety of attributes described herein such as whether a user's group offriends are moving from one late night Karaoke bar to another. Inaddition to friends, a type of community, a history of an area orcommunity, the amount of followers a user account has that is makingposts, an age of a person that is making posts (e.g., under 21), may allcorrespond to one or more atlases, channels, and/or layers and/or maycontribute to a value associated with a venue, location, party,activity, sporting event, etc.

In some embodiments, atlases, channels, and/or layers may be configuredto narrow social media posts (e.g., by including posts that are includedin more than one selected atlas, channel, and/or layer). In someembodiments, atlases, channels, and/or layers may be configured toexpand an amount of posts shown (e.g., by including posts includedwithin each selected atlas, channel, and/or layer as well as posts thatare only in one selected atlas, channel, and/or layer).

For example, a user may select a few channels—one that includes resortattractions, one that includes wild animals, and one that includeszip-lining. A map may show items included in all of these channels(e.g., the map would show resort attractions that include wild animalsand zip-lining). In addition, a user may select a channel that includesall locations that include video-game arcades. In various embodiments, auser may configure systems herein to show a map that includes both thelocations of resort attractions that include wild animals andzip-lining, as well as locations of any video-game arcades. In such anexample, a user may decide to visit the resort attraction that includeswild animals and zip-lining, but is also close to a video-game arcade sotheir son or someone who would rather play video games than gozip-lining may play, while being close to the group that wants tozipline.

In some embodiments, systems and/or methods described with reference toFIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2C can be executed by, used on, used by, included in,shown/displayed on, stored in, searched by, transmitted by, assessed by,and/or received by the systems and/or devices included in FIGS. 9A-B,10, and 11.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example client device 300, according to variousembodiments. Client device 300 includes a display 305 including a map,and a plurality of symbols 302, 304, 306, and 308 representing one ormore posts, which may be located on the map. The items included ondisplay 305 may be based on one or more user profiles, atlases,channels, layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes.

Symbols 302, 304, 306, and 308 may correspond to a social media post,which may be included in a layer, which may be included in a channel,which may be included in an atlas.

In one or more embodiments, symbol 302 includes a shape including anemoji. The shape included in symbol 302 may include a color which may berepresentative of an emotion which a user may enter on client device300. For example, client device 300 may receive input causing it tocreate a post, and the input may include post data such as a location,symbol, and/or an emotion, all of which may be determined by system 100and/or entered by a user. In one or more embodiments, a color may beassociated with post 302 (e.g., the shape may be colored), and the colormay be based on an emotion entered by a user on client device 300.

In one or more embodiments a symbol 304 and 306 may be shown whichindicates an emotion. For example, a symbol 304 and 306 may be shown onclient device 300 and include an emoji (e.g., a face, a firework, achurch), which may show an indifferent face (e.g., symbol 306) or anunhappy face (e.g., symbol 304).

In one or more embodiments, client device 300 may show on its display305 an aggregation of posts (e.g., reviews) such as symbol 308. Forexample, instead of showing a plurality of posts which do not overlap,symbol 308 may indicate the plurality of posts. In one or moreembodiments, if a user selects symbol 308 a plurality of at least aportion of reviews may be shown which may be posted by other users of asocial network. After a user selects symbol 308, multiple posts may beprovided to a user, which may each include at least a portion of areview. In one or more embodiments, a user may view a completereview—which may include images, text, videos, audio, etc.—in responseto selecting a review shown after the user has selected the aggregationof posts symbol 308.

In one or more embodiments, text may be shown on display 305. Forexample, text may be shown indicating an amount of zoom, an amount ofvotes a post has received, etc. In some embodiments, text may beincluded in a post and displayed on client device 300. For example, auser may select symbol 306 and text may be shown associated with a postrepresented by symbol 306. The text may indicate why symbol 306 includesan indifferent emoji. In one or more embodiments, text included in apost may be used to create symbol 306. For instance, text discussing howbad a location is may cause a symbol (e.g., symbol 304) to be associatedwith a post, wherein the symbol denotes an unhappy emotion (such as anemoji with an unhappy face).

In one or more embodiments, a system includes functionality to receive,from a client device, a request for one or more social media posts. Forexample, the system may receive a request from the client device 300.The request may include screen attribute information about the display305 of the client device. For example, the size of the display 305, theresolution of the display 305, areas of a map displayed on the display305, etc. The request may include geographic location information, forexample, identifying a geographic location of the client device 300 oran area/specific location navigated to where the client device 300 isnot currently located. The request may include identification of arequesting account of the social network, for example, the accountassociated with a user of the client device 300.

In one or more embodiments, the system includes functionality toidentify a set of temporally recent social media posts based on thescreen attribute information and the geographic location information.For example, the system may only identify social media posts that havebeen posted within the most recent 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours. In addition, the systemmay only identify social media posts that are within a proximity ofdistance from the location included in the geographic locationinformation, and/or within a map view specified by the screen attributeinformation.

In one or more embodiments, the request further includes a categoryindication. For example, the category (or atlas, channel, and/or layer)may be restaurants, bars, sports venues, etc. Identifying the set oftemporally recent social media posts may be based on the categoryindication. In other words, the identification may partially orcompletely exclude social media posts that are not included in theindicated category.

In one or more embodiments, the system includes functionality to applygrouping criteria to the set of social media posts to generate asuggested group. For example, the system may further filter the socialmedia posts to determine a suggested group of social media posts thatmay be later provided to the client device. Accordingly, the suggestedgroup may be a subset of the set of social media posts.

In one or more embodiments, applying the grouping criteria includesranking each social media post of the set of social media postsaccording to a customized score for each social media post. Thecustomized score may be based on a set of preference factors(corresponding to the requesting account) that are applied to a generalscore of each social media post. For example, each social media post mayinclude a general score that is not specific to any particular user orpreference. The general score may be based on various factors, likegeneral popularity. One or more preference factors may definepreferences of a particular account. Such preference factors may beapplied to the general score of a social media post to arrive at acustomized score for the social media post. In other words, thepreference factors may be used to determine a weighted version of thegeneral score, resulting in the customized score that is specific to theparticular. In the absence of a preference factor, the unweightedgeneral score may be used.

A preference factor may be implicit or explicit. For example, apreference factor may be determined based on an account's past behavioror account attributes (e.g., demographics like age, sex, gender, etc.),or may be based on explicit indications made by the account.

In one or more embodiments, the system includes functionality to rankeach social media post based on a distance between a geographic locationcorresponding with the social media post and the geographic locationinformation. For example, the social media post may correspond with alocation such as a salsa club, and the ranking may be based on thedistance of that salsa club from the location identified by thegeographic location information.

In one or more embodiments, the system includes functionality to select,based the ranking, the subset of the set of social media posts forinclusion in the suggested group. The selecting may involve excluding atleast one social media post of the set of social media posts frominclusion in the suggested group based on the ranking. In one or moreembodiments, system includes functionality to provide, in response tothe request, the suggested group for display by the client device 300.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example client device 300, according to variousembodiments. As can be seen on example client device 300, and asdescribed throughout the instant disclosure, in some embodiments aplurality of social media posts 310 (e.g., reviews) may be shown on adisplay so much show that the display is of no use. For example, thedisplay shown in FIG. 3B includes so many symbols representing poststhat a user cannot sort through them all. As such, systems and methodsdescribed herein may cause a display to provide posts in a moredigestible manner. For example, posts may be aggregated such that asingle symbol may represent a plurality of posts, and thus the posts maynot clutter screen real estate. An addition, or as another method, postsmay be filtered at least by attributes (e.g., post attributes) such thatonly a subset of posts are shown (e.g., posts may be filtered by a typeof restaurant, music playing at a venue, etc.).

In various embodiments, a system can be configured to transform lessimportant content into expanded bubbles at lower zoom levels. Lessimportant (e.g., having a lower score/value) content may bedisplayed/seen less frequently during the aggregation display and maypop up less frequently.

Digestible content can be created in all or most of the viewport options(e.g., view modes and/or configurations). In one or more embodiments,the utilized display is configured to “flex” or transform in display,allowing users to view a summary of the content in a specific area,while also having the ability to see the most relevant individual postswithout having to zoom in. The overall effect of the system is toprovide an overview of the most important human activity in a country,region, city, or other level.

In various embodiments, as the number of users of the social networkgrow, the use of static pins may become exponentially less effective. Asmore users begin using the system, the ability to discern relevantcontent becomes more difficult. The location-based content platformdisplays content based on relevancy in relation to the user's viewpoint.As the user's location and relevancy of data change, the system isconfigured to hide and show Bubbles/posts dynamically in order to filterout content determined to be less relevant to the user.

As described herein, due to: (1) a potential amount of posts (e.g.,hundreds or thousands); and (2) the amount of screen real estate on aclient device, some posts may need to be shown more predominantly thanothers. For example, some posts may be larger than other posts so a usercan easily view them. If, for instance, all posts were the same size andall shown at the same time, then hundreds or thousands of posts wouldovercrowd a display making the map, and therefore the posts, virtuallyuseless (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3B). Thus, the concept of filteringposts by a variety of atlases, channels, and/or layers allows users toquickly and easily obtain the information they need.

Thus, in various embodiments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3C) rather thanshow many posts of the same size, which may be indistinguishable fromone another, some posts may be shown as being larger, with a differentcolor, be associated with an emotion (which may be indicated by anemoticon/emoji), be shown as a small cluster 322, or otherwise be moredisplayed more predominantly than other posts. The attributes of theseposts may be based on an atlas, channel, and/or layer which they areincluded in. Further, in various embodiments, when a user has zoomedout, they may see posts that have a high importance level (also referredto herein interchangeably with a value or a score), and when they zoomin on an area, a system may show a user posts with lower importancevalues. As such, various posts may be filtered out when a user isviewing a map from a certain “altitude.” In other words, from a distancea user may see things that are important to them—wherein importance canbe based on a variety of factors—while when close up a user may be ableto see posts that were not so important to them, but may be shown forone or more other reasons (e.g., other than the user's preferences).

Further, in some embodiments, a user (e.g., a user account) (or anatlas, channel, and/or layer) may be associated with tags, which mayeach have a value associated with them (e.g., sports—7; restaurants—4;karaoke bars—9; museums—6; video game arcades—2; movie theaters—3;fishing—8). These tags and, in some cases the values associated with thetags, may be used to determine the importance of a social media post toa user, and affect what social media posts are displayed as discussedherein.

Similarly, in some embodiments, posts may be more relevant/importantbased on time. Or, a channel may include posts based on time. Forexample, if posts were made within the previous 1-2 hours they may bedisplayed on a screen more predominantly than posts that were made a dayor two before. In some embodiments, posts that were made on the same dayof the week (e.g., Friday), time of the year (e.g., Christmas), and/orhave some type of unique/important/relevant temporal aspect may be shownmore predominantly than other posts.

Further, posts may be ephemeral in nature. For example, if a systemknows that a happy hour will end at a certain time (e.g., because a useror restaurant owner makes a post indicating so), then a post may quicklybecome less predominant when (or close to when) the happy hour ends—asopposed to a post about a party which slowly dies down over the courseof 2-3 hours. Similarly, a system that provides posts about clubs,restaurants, museums, zoos, or any other place that closes may cause theposts about those places to disappear quickly when the location and/orvenue closes (or is close to closing (e.g., within an hour)). In someembodiments, if a user sets up their system such that they rank wheretheir friends are very highly (in one way or another), when theirfriends move from one place to another a post made by a friend orsomeone else at a location may disappear much quicker than if it hadbeen made by someone ranked lower (e.g., a stranger to the user (e.g., anon-first-level-connection)).

Just as various posts may be ephemeral in nature, in some embodimentsposts will last longer than other posts. For example, if a user makes anatlas, channel, and/or layer that ranks salsa dancing very highly, thena post about a salsa club may be displayed more predominantly and/or fora longer period of time than a jazz club which may have more people orotherwise be more fun to a greater number of users of the socialnetwork.

FIG. 3C illustrates an example client device 300, according to variousembodiments. Client device 300 includes symbols 320, 322, and 324. Inone or more embodiments, symbols 320, 322, and 324 may be symbols thatare an aggregate of two or more posts. In addition, some posts may beassociated with text.

In one or more embodiments, text may be altered. For example, text maybe altered by appearing or disappearing on display 305 based on avariety of factors. Text may be displayed on a tab, wherein the tab isassociated with a symbol (e.g., a tab may be emerging from a symbol(also referred to as a graphical symbol)). Altering text may includedisplaying additional text, or less text. In one or more embodiments,text may be altered based on an input received by a client device suchas where a tab is selected. For example, text shown in FIG. 3C maycorrespond with symbol 320, and may show more or less text, at least aportion of which says, “GREAT BLUES MUSIC!”

Moreover, text may include an indication of a value associated with anattribute (e.g., a post attribute). In one or more embodiments, varioussymbols or other representations of posts may be shown based on values(e.g., rankings) associated with particular attributes. For example, auser may filter posts/aggregated posts (which may be usedinterchangeably herein with creating and/or viewing an atlas, channel,and/or layer). In one or more examples, as shown in example FIG. 3C,posts may be filtered by nightlife. Various attributes, such as drinkspecials, salsa dancing, and blues music may be attributes that arefiltered. For example, here, Broadway shows may be filtered out (and mayhave been shown on the cluttered map in FIG. 3B. Posts, symbols, etc.may be shown over others based on rankings/values associated with theattributes (which may be based on an atlas, channel, and/or layer towhich a post/symbol belongs). For example, many dancing symbols 322 maybe shown, and text corresponding to the dancing symbols may show thatthe average salsa dancer at one or more locations has a skill level of8. Thus, in some embodiments, this set of posts/aggregated symbol may beshown rather than one in another part of town. Similarly, an attributesuch as drink specials may be associated with an ambivalent face asshown by symbol 324 and its corresponding text. In some embodiments, aplurality of attributes corresponding with one or more locations maycorrespond to a plurality of rankings, all of which may be used todetermine how many, a type of, and/or where a symbol/post may be shownon a map, as described herein.

In one or more embodiments, instead of rankings corresponding withattributes corresponding to a post, or in combination with rankingscorresponding to post attributes, in one or more embodiments a postitself may be based on a relevance number. A relevance number may bebased on various post attributes including, but not limited to: a timethat a post was recorded, a number of votes received by a post, a numberof positive/up votes received by a post, a number of negative/down votesreceived by a post, an aggregation of a number of positive/up andnegative/down votes received by a post, a number of comments received bya post (e.g., associated with a post), a number of positive/up votesreceived by comments associated with a post, a time of at least onecomment, and/or a comment relevance (e.g., whether the comment hassomething to do with the post, whether the comment was posted by user'sconnection within a social network).

FIG. 3D illustrates an example client device 300, according to variousembodiments. As with 3C, attributes of symbols 332, 334, and 336 (e.g.,post attributes of posts represented by symbols 332, 334, and 336) maybe shown based on rankings associated with their attributes. Forexample, symbol 336 may be shown based on an attribute the quality ofwaves associated with beach/symbol 336. In one or more embodiments,information corresponding with an attribute of a post or symbol may bereceived from a system from a canonical (e.g., third-party source). Forexample, information from a beach information website may provide asystem with the quality of waves. Similarly, in some embodiments,information provided by a website such as Yelp!™ may be used todetermine a value of an attribute corresponding to a location/post. Asanother example, an RSS feed (e.g., from a twitter account) may be usedto rank attributes, create posts, and/or determine which posts/symbolswill be displayed on a client device. In some embodiments, a post/symbolsuch as 332 may not be shown because its value associated with waves isonly 3. However, it may be shown—despite its wave ranking of 3—based onrankings provided by one or more users. For example, a combination ofthe rankings of attributes of a post (e.g., the quality of waves,wherein waves is an attribute of a location) may be combined withrankings of a post itself (e.g., a beach in Santa Cruz where people aresurfing).

In some embodiments, a cumulative ranking of a post/group of posts maybe based on rankings of multiple attributes. For example, a post/symbol334 of a beach in Monterey may indicate that the quality of waves is a6, and that the beach has bathrooms and lifeguards such that childrenmay go into the water there. In one or more embodiments, the cleanlinessof the bathrooms may be ranked and/or the quality of the waves—which mayall be included in the overall ranking of the location (e.g., whether itmay be shown on a particular map created by one or more users).

As described throughout this disclosure, a beach in Santa Cruz may be alocation about which a post may be made, and be associated with one ormore of an atlas, channel, and/or layer. Many posts may be aggregatedinto a single post such that a map is not cluttered. A post and/oraggregated post (which may be represented by a symbol) may haveattributes associated with it/corresponding to it (e.g., waves). In oneor more or more embodiments, the attributes may have their own rankings,which may affect which or whether a post/symbol is shown on a map on aclient device. An example of an attribute with its own ranking would bean attribute such as waves, which are ranked by a quality (e.g.,surfability, size, etc.).

In one or more embodiments, the system can be configured to determinerelevancy of a posting user based on one or more signals including, butnot limited to: whether a user is following another user (e.g., whetherconnected, or simply being updated when a person posts (e.g., unilateralfollowing)); whether a user is subscribed to a map channel which is alsosubscribed to by a posting user; and/or whether the viewing user shareinterest with the posting user; whether the viewing user sharesdemographic traits with the posting user.

In one or more embodiments, according to the derived importance and/orrelevancy scores, the system can be configured to do one or more of thefollowing including, but not limited to: showing the content moreprominently on the map; expand or display the content at higher zoomlevels; expand or display the content with more frequency eitherindividually or in aggregate; and/or expand or Display more content ofthat type. Importance and/or relevancy scores may also be based at leastin part on an atlas, channel, and/or layer in which a social media postis included.

Relevancy scores/cues may be a weighted aggregate comprising, withoutlimitation: Comment Score, Vote Score, and/or Time Score. A CommentScore may be a number determined by the number of comments that a posthas and how recent each comment was posted. Older comments may have alower score, more recent comments may have a higher score. A Vote Scoremay be a number determined by the number of total votes and up votesthat the post has received, weighted by how recent those votes tookplace. In some embodiments, a Time Score may be a number weighted by howold the post is, older posts have a lower score. By using the aggregatedRelevancy score/values, it may be possible to surface the most relevantand popular content.

Further, in some embodiments some activities or locations that a user isinterested in may be weighted differently than others. For example, if auser likes Mexican food they may weight Mexican food 3 times higher thanKorean BBQ. As such, if a particular Mexican food restaurant has arating/score of 3, and a Korean BBQ restaurant has a rating/score of 7,then the Mexican food restaurant would have a total weighting of 9(e.g., 3×3) making it more relevant/important to the user who likesMexican food.

In some embodiments, an ephemerality system (e.g., a system that may addor remove posts based at least in part on a period of time) may provideuser control over post content ephemerality on a map-based socialnetwork. This has multiple advantages such as providing a more accuraterepresentation of “what's going on now”, and giving a real time feel tothe map. Further, disappearing posts may add space so map contentdoesn't fill the screen, thereby allowing the system to scale in usernumbers and post without overflowing their screen.

In one embodiment, users are given the ability to select how longposts—or certain types of posts (e.g., based on a channel)—remain on amap. A duration of a post can range from less than seconds, seconds,minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, or all the way to infiniteduration.

In one embodiment, a history scrubber allows users to rewind back intotime and see the map as it existed some place in the past (which may bestored in a copy of an atlas, channel, and/or layer copied at an earlierpoint in time). This gives the benefits of “real time” posting (what'shappening now) while providing the ability to see historical information(what was happening then). This way, a real-time overview of humanevents is provided while not overflowing the map with old socialpostings. This can be configured to work analogously to moving forwardand back on a YouTube video, entering date information, usingincremental time controls, having versions of maps, and so on.

In some embodiments, a user may see what happened on a previous weekend,such as where their friends went and/or what types of posts happened atdifferent places. Such functionality may be combined with a third-partysource such that a user can have multiple sources of information to makea more informed decision regarding what play they would like to see,where they would like to go, what they would like to eat, who they wouldlike to spend their time with, etc.

It is contemplated that in some embodiments a user may tag other users,such that the user knows to stay away from a certain location, or go toa certain location. In some embodiments a user may also erase posts theymade or not allow other users to see where they were or what they did ata previous point in time.

FIG. 3E shows an example of multiple maps combined into one. Forexample, a map shown on device 340 may be a first user's map which maybe filtered by locations above a particular point. A map shown on device350 may be filtered to show locations below a particular point. In oneor more embodiments described herein, a user (e.g., a user of clientdevice 360) may select multiple filtered maps (e.g., the maps shown ondevices 340 and 350, which may have been created by strangers and/orconnections) and combine those maps to be shown on their own screen. Inone or more embodiments, a discussion about user profiles, atlases,channels, and/or layers included herein may be applied to such anembodiment (e.g., information from more than one user profile, atlas,channel, layer, social media post, and/or post attribute may be combined(e.g., as a map and/or posts/symbols on a map), since in someembodiments atlases, channels, layers and/or filters may be usedinterchangeably to described substantially the same functionality.

In some embodiments, a map may include every post and/or symbolrepresenting every post made (e.g., to a social network). Users mayconfigure their maps however they like. As discussed herein, a user mayselect a shape and size of a map shown on their mobile device, as wellas the types posts shown by using filters, atlases, channels, and/orlayers. In some embodiments, such as those shown in FIG. 3E, a user maycause symbols/posts from another user's system to be shown on theirdevice (e.g., map). Many maps from many users may be shown on a user'sdevice in a similar fashion (e.g., the information shown on devices 340and 350 may be shown on device 360). In some embodiments, a user mayimport all types of information onto their system. For example, a usermay import one, two, three, or ten filtered maps (e.g., maps includingposts wherein the posts are shown based on a location, attribute,ranking, etc.) onto their own device (and these filtered maps may beshown on their device). In some embodiments, a user may filter theimported filtered posts/maps/symbols such that their screen is notcluttered and/or they see the types of posts/symbols that they wouldlike to see. As with any post/symbol/attribute, they may be rankedand/or text may be included and/or altered (e.g., to show more or lesstext as in FIG. 3C) based on preferences of a user. In one or moreembodiments, a combination of maps may be referred to as an atlas.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary depiction of systems described herein,in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. FIG. 4shows at least a portion of post and/or one or more post attributes(e.g., a review 402). Review 402 includes an image 404 and text 408. Thereview 402 may appear in response to device input such as the pressingof an emoji, in response to a request for a review, in response totyping in the name of a location, etc. In some embodiments users mayview many reviews by swiping a screen in a particular direction,searching for a connection's reviews, searching for reviews within theprevious 20 minutes, etc.

FIG. 5 shows posts 502 displayed in their minimal form, even in thisform the “emotional” tags are still shown giving a user a high-leveloverview of the nature of posted information. However, as a user zoomsin closer to a post they may various posts may become more descriptive,rather than being a simple dot on a map. If a user still does not knowwhat they would like to do and/or see, they may post questions for otherusers to answer.

For example, FIG. 6 shows that a user has posted a question 602 andnearby users are notified of questions posted to the map. In thisexample, the color is shown as grey denoting a “question” post.

FIG. 7A illustrates a display 700 including an example form, inaccordance with some embodiments. In various embodiments, a user account(which may have different permissions than other user accounts (e.g., anadministrator)) may create a form.

FIG. 7A includes an action 710, and a widget 720 configured to cause asystem to add an option corresponding to the action 710. In FIG. 7A anaction is created. An action may include one or more names and/oremojis. For example, action 710 is named Airport Wait Times and includesan airplane emoji.

A form may be an item that may be shown on a user's device in responseto accessing a particular atlas, channel, layer, and/or social mediapost. In addition, a form may be provided to a user in response to auser opening the application.

By entering information into a form, one or more atlases, channels,layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes may be created,modified, edited, and/or at least partially deleted. Information enteredinto a form may be stored in a database. Further, information enteredinto a form by a user (account) may be displayed on a client device ofthe user, or on the client device of another user. For example, a userof a second user account may access the information entered into a formby a user corresponding to a first user account. The entered data may beincluded in an atlas, channel, layer, and/or social media post, anddisplayed on the second user's client device.

A user may enter dates, numerical ranges, text, and other informationinto a form. In some embodiments, a user may create a form and chooseinformation that a form is configured to receive. In some embodiments, aform may be associated with a channel, and an administrator (e.g., auser with a higher level of access than other users) may be able tocreate a form while other users cannot.

In response to attempting to access a particular atlas, channel, layer,and/or social media post, a form may be provided to a user/client device(e.g., a widget on a display (e.g., a button) may be configured todisplay a form and/or a list of forms when selected). In one example, aform may allow a user to enter information associated with a date andsurfing conditions, and one or more atlases, channels, layers, and/orsocial media posts may be shown. For example, one or more social mediaposts and/or post attributes corresponding to typical surfing conditionson a date of a year may appear in response to a user entering a date andsurfing conditions on a form. Further, in response to enteringinformation into a form, at least some information from one or more userprofiles, atlases, channels, layers, social media posts, and/or postattributes may be displayed.

As one example, a form may request information from a user associatedwith airport conditions. In response to a request for airportconditions, a user may be requested to provide information associatedwith turbulence, airplane delays, security incidents, and/or destinationalerts. In one example, if a user accesses one or more atlases,channels, layers, social media posts, and/or post attributes (e.g.,accessing a layer associated with travel deals (which may be included ina “travel” channel)), a form may request information associated with thetype of deal, a hotel, a car rental business, sight-seeing locations,etc. Of course, more than one form may be provided to a user instead ofone form, in various embodiments.

It should be noted that a user may create such a form and configure itto be displayed in response to a variety of actions such asselecting/accessing an atlas, channel, layer, social media post, and/orpost attribute. A user may configure a form to request informationassociated with an airport, travel deals, restaurants, museums, sportingevents, comedy clubs, lectures, activities, races, romance/dating, etc.

In one embodiment, information entered into a form may cause at leastone atlas, channel, layer, social media post, and/or post attribute tobe created. For example, by entering answers to questions on a form, amap including social media posts (which may have been selected inresponse to the questions) may be displayed on a client device. Thesocial media posts on the map may at least in part be based on an atlas,channel, and/or layer.

In one example, a form may be used to create a map that includesrestaurant menus. The form may request titles, photos, descriptions,and/or prices of food. In one embodiment, a user may receive payment forentering information (e.g., as requested by a form). In other words, apayment account corresponding to a user account may receive payment(e.g., USD, bitcoin) by completing a form.

In some embodiments, users may create a form from a blank form or maycreate a form from a template. For example, a template may be configuredto receive a city name, and questions about that city. In response, theform may request answers to the questions about that city.

FIG. 7B illustrates a display 700 including an example form, inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7B includes an action 710, awidget 720 configured to cause a system to add an option correspondingto the action 710, and a list of options 730 which may correspond to anoption (e.g., options may be widgets such as buttons, a widgetconfigured to receive a time, a widget configured to receive a URL,and/or a widget configured to receive text). The form shown on display700 may correspond with a user profile, atlas, channel, layer, socialmedia post, and/or post attribute.

In FIG. 7B, an action is created. An action may include one or morenames and/or emojis. For example, action 710 is named Airport Wait Timesand includes an airplane emoji.

FIG. 7C illustrates a display 700 including an example form, inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7C includes an action menu (whichmay include recently used actions 740), which may be associated with aform, a user profile, an atlas, a channel, a layer, a social media post,and/or a post attribute. Further, the form shown in on display 700 maycreate at least part of another form, a user profile, an atlas, achannel, a layer, a social media post, and/or a post attribute. The formshown on display 700 also includes an option associated with airportattributes 750 (e.g., if creating a form, one of the options within thecreated form may be a widget configured to receive informationassociated with airport conditions). The form shown on display 700 alsoincludes a widget configured to receive a new action set 760. A newaction set may include additional forms, or actions which may occur to amap and/or location (e.g., cause a post to be made).

FIG. 7D illustrates a display 700 including an example form, inaccordance with some embodiments. The form in display 700 may beconfigured to allow a user to create an action (e.g., Airport WaitTimes), which may be associated with a name, an emoji (e.g., anairplane), an image, a video, etc. The form may also show an option 750which includes a selected option (e.g., reason for delay), and widgetsconfigured to allow a user to edit one or more options. Further, theform also shows a widget 720 configured to add an option.

FIG. 7E illustrates a display 700 including an example form, inaccordance with some embodiments. The form shown in display 700 may beassociated with a user profile, an atlas, a channel, a layer, a socialmedia post, and/or a post attribute (e.g., the form may be accessed byaccessing a user profile, an atlas, a channel, a layer, a social mediapost, and/or a post attribute and/or the form may create a form includedin a user profile, an atlas, a channel, a layer, a social media post,and/or a post attribute). The form may show a preview of an action. InFIG. 700, the action being previewed 710 is associated with AirportConditions. The action may include notices 770 and/or wait times 780. Inresponse to creating the action, in some embodiments, a form may beconfigured to receive input comprising a user selecting a notice out ofthe group of: usual delays, slow people, and/or TSA issues. In responseto creating the action, in some embodiments, a form may be configured toreceive input associated with a wait time (or any other topic), whichmay be received via a sliding bar widget.

While the present disclosure sets forth various embodiments usingspecific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagramcomponent, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/orillustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively,using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or anycombination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure ofcomponents contained within other components should be considered asexamples because other architectures can be implemented to achieve thesame functionality.

In some embodiments, systems and/or methods described with reference toFIGS. 7A-7E can be executed by, used on, used by, included in,shown/displayed on, stored in, searched by, transmitted by, assessed by,and/or received by the systems and/or devices included in FIGS. 9A-B,10, and 11.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart 800 wherein a social media post isaccessed based on a combination of at least one atlas, channel, layer,and/or media post.

At step 810 a user profile is accessed. User profiles may be datastructures and/or included in systems and methods described herein. Userprofiles may identify a user, and may include information including, butnot limited to: an address, a representative image, a wall for posts, amailbox, a form, and information that at least part of a post and/orsymbol is based on, etc. A user profile may include one or more atlases,which may include one or more channels, which may include one or morelayers, which may include one or more social media posts, which mayinclude one or more post attributes. In some embodiments, social mediaposts shown on a screen of a client device may only include, or may notinclude, information accessed by and/or included in a user profile.

At step 820 an atlas is accessed. Atlases may be data structures and/orbe included in user profiles. Atlases may be associated with a topic(e.g., food, temperature, airline, time, location, points of interest),and may include information including, but not limited to: a form, andinformation that at least part of a post and/or symbol is based on, etc.An atlas may include one or more channels, which may include one or morelayers, which may include one or more social media posts, which mayinclude one or more post attributes. Atlases may access (dynamically orstatically) and/or include another atlas, a channel, a layer, a socialmedia post, and a post attribute. In some embodiments, social mediaposts shown on a screen of a client device may only include, or may notinclude, information accessed by and/or included in an atlas.

At step 830 a channel is accessed. Channels may be data structuresand/or be included in atlases. Channels may be associated with a topic(e.g., food, temperature, airline, time, location, points of interest),and may include information including, but not limited to: a form, andinformation that at least part of a post and/or symbol is based on, etc.A channel may include one or more layers, which may include one or moresocial media posts, which may include one or more post attributes.Channels may access (dynamically or statically) and/or include an atlas,another channel, a layer, a social media post, and a post attribute. Insome embodiments, social media posts shown on a screen of a clientdevice may only include, or may not include, information accessed byand/or included in a channel.

At step 840 a layer is accessed. Layers may be data structures and/or beincluded in channels. Layers may be associated with a topic (e.g., food,temperature, airline, time, location, points of interest), and mayinclude information including, but not limited to: a form, andinformation that at least part of a post and/or symbol is based on, etc.A layer may include one or more social media posts, which may includeone or more post attributes. Layers may access (dynamically orstatically) and/or include an atlas, a channel, another layer, a socialmedia post, and a post attribute. In some embodiments, social mediaposts shown on a screen of a client device may only include, or may notinclude, information accessed by and/or included in a layer.

At step 850 a social media post is accessed. Social media posts may bedata structures and/or be included in layers. Social media posts may beassociated with a topic (e.g., food, temperature, airline, time,location, points of interest), and may include information including,but not limited to: text, images, a location, a venue, a payment method,a cost, a time, an emotion, an emoji, an emoticon, a form, andinformation that at least part of a post and/or symbol is based on, etc.A social media post may include one or more post attributes, at least aportion of which may be displayed on a screen (e.g., in response to asearch). Social media posts may access (dynamically or statically)and/or include information from an atlas, a channel, a layer, anothersocial media post, and/or a post attribute.

At step 860 a post attribute is accessed. Post attributes may be datastructures and/or be included in social media posts. Post attributes maybe shown on a screen along with a social media post that is accessingit/it belongs to, or without at least a portion of a social media postthat is accessing it/it belongs to. Post attributes may be associatedwith a topic (e.g., food, temperature, airline, time, location, pointsof interest), and may include information including, but not limited to:text, images, a location, a venue, a payment method, a cost, a time, anemotion, an emoji, an emoticon, a form, and information that at leastpart of a post and/or symbol is based on, etc. Post attributes mayaccess (dynamically or statically) and/or include information from anatlas, a channel, a layer, another social media post, and/or anotherpost attribute.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a various method for functionalityassociated with the example systems described herein. While the varioussteps in the flowchart is presented and described sequentially, one ofordinary skill will appreciate that some or all of the steps may beexecuted in different orders and some or all of the steps may beexecuted in parallel. Further, in one or more embodiments of theinvention, one or more of the steps described herein may be omitted,repeated, and/or performed in a different order. Accordingly, thespecific arrangement of steps shown should not be construed as limitingthe scope of the invention.

FIG. 9A shows a system 900 for receiving location information on asocial network. The system 900 includes a communication means 901, adata store 902, a processor 903, memory 904, a viewpoint generationmodule 905, and a social mapping module 906. Various components ofsystem 900 can be located on a client device (e.g., a mobile device,personal computer, laptop, personal digital assistant, smartphone,kiosk, cable box, television) and/or a remote computer (e.g., a server,the cloud). In one or more embodiments there can be more than one ofeach separate component running on a device, as well as any combinationof these components within a given embodiment of the invention. Further,in one or more embodiment a client device may receive information from asocial network, such as a social media post (also referred tointerchangeably as a post), and/or a remote computer may receiveinformation from a social network, such as a post.

In one or more embodiments, a social mapping module 906 may be includedin system 900. A social mapping module 906 may execute on a computerprocessor and be configured to enable a computer processor to perform avariety of tasks. In one or more embodiments, a social mapping modulemay receive social mapping data (e.g., a post, which may be receivedfrom data store 902), where the social mapping data is associated withone or more geographic locations. For example, social mapping data maybe used to identify and/or locate places where the social mapping data(e.g., posts) are being received from, and where viewpoints are focused.

In one or more embodiments, a viewpoint is a graphical representation ofsocial mapping data displayed on a client device. A viewpoint may showan area of a map encompassing 100 meters, 1000, meters, 10 km, etc. Inone or more embodiments a viewpoint may be based on a type of area shownon a map. For example, a viewpoint may be of a smaller area (e.g., arelatively smaller area of a map is shown on a display) if the area isan urban environment and/or includes many locations associated withposts, or a viewpoint may be of a larger area (e.g., a relatively largerarea of a map is shown on a display) if the area is a rural environment.The same may be applicable to areas where a threshold amount of posts(e.g., social mapping data) are located regardless of a type of an arearepresented on a map.

In addition to a social mapping module 906 and a viewpoint generationmodule 905, system 900 may include a communication means which cantransmit and/or receive information to/from a client device, a network,a multi-tenant network (e.g., the cloud), a network interfacecontroller, a network gateway, etc.

In one or more embodiments, a client device may submit a post to datastore 902. Such a post may include a graphical symbol received by aclient device. The post may be based on one or more of a user profile,an atlas, a channel, a layer, and/or a post attribute. The post may beassociated with an emotional state received by the client device, whichmay be represented by a color. In one or more embodiments, an emotionalstate may be represented as a value. For example, a user of a smartphonemay provide input to smartphone causing the creation of a post, and theuser may cause the smartphone to cause the post to be associated with alocation, an emotional state value (e.g., where 0 is sad and 10 ishappy, and where other numbers may represent angry, depressed, bored,etc.) and other things including, but not limited to: a store, a person,another user of the social network, an image, a video, audio, a time, adate, a symbol, a pictograph, an ideograph, an ideogram, a smiley, anemoji, an emoticon, an emoji bubble (e.g., a shape including/containingan emoji). In one or more embodiments, a user may not know an emotionalstate value. For example, a user may select an emotional state of sadwithout knowing that a system represents sad with a value such as 0. Inone or more embodiments, emotional state values may be represented byboth symbols and values.

In one or more embodiments, system 900 (which the social network may atleast in part run on) may receive posts, which may be stored in datastore 902 (along with user profiles, atlases, channels, layers, and/orpost attributes, in some embodiments). System 900 (e.g., via socialmapping module 906) may create a map and/or associate posts withlocations on a map, which may then be transmitted to a client device anddisplayed on a screen of a client device. Based on input from a clientdevice, system 900 (e.g., mapping module 906 and/or viewpoint generationmodule 905), which may be hosted remotely from a client device, mayassociate material to display on a client device including, but notlimited to: at least a portion of a map, at least one or more postswhich may be represented by one or more symbols, one or more colorsrepresentative of an attribute associated with a post (e.g., anemotion), an emoji, an emoji bubble, an image (e.g., of a location), avideo (e.g., of the interior of a location, which may have been recordedwithin a particular period of time such as the previous hour), etc.

In some embodiments, users may be provided with a mode of postingproviding the ability to tag symbols, emoji's, further enabling theability to tag emotions (e.g., sentiment) and/or contextual cues(displayed in different formats such as color). In some embodiments, auser may be provided with a form which may be configured to create apost. The form may correspond with a user profile, an atlas, a channel,a layer, a social media post, and/or a post attribute. In addition toincluding/displaying post content (e.g., a post attribute) within asocial media/online post, this information may also be displayed as themain mode of information transmittal, with word usage being secondary.Different contextual data sets may be combined into a singlevisualization for quick comprehension of the meaning of the posted data.These (e.g., the contextual data sets and/or visualizations) mayinclude, but are not limited to: the tagging/inputting of emotional datausing color, selecting symbols or “emojis” to visualize contextualinformation, by adding photos and/or multimedia, and/or tag/entering ofquestions on a map (e.g., such that another user of the social networkmay respond).

As described above, a system can be configured to pull these types ofattributes together into a single data set visualized on the map. Eachdata set can be represented alone or concurrently with other data sets.

In one or more embodiments, screen attributes of a client device may bedetermined. Determining screen attributes of a client device may beperformed at the client device or remote from the client device (e.g.,at social mapping module 906 and/or viewpoint generation module 905).Screen attributes may include, but are not limited to: a size and shapeof a screen, a current zoom level, a pan location, an availability ofscreen space, a viewing angle, an amount of transparency of a screen,and/or an amount of screen space. Further, screen attributes may be usedto determine what is shown on a display, including, but not limited to:an amount of a map, a number of posts, a number of symbols representingposts, whether multiple posts/symbols should be represented by fewer(e.g., a single or a few) posts and/or symbols, a number of emojis,notifications associated with a social network, an amount of icons,types of illustrations, and/or a resolution of one or more displayedobjects.

In one or more embodiments, transforming the visualization of content ofa post dependent on a user's screen information can involve thefollowing: a user's viewport or a user's desired viewpoint, a user'szoom level, a user's pan location (e.g., an area where they have movedtheir view above), and/or a user's screen dimensions.

In one or more embodiments, using this information to change thedisplayed post can include, but is not limited to: displaying indicatorsof total user activity variously as heat maps, dots, or otherindications to show total amount activity, or all posts at any giventime; showing, at a zoom level that is further out, an aggregate of userposts as a single bubble, and/or displaying a slideshow of user posts(e.g., multiple pictures and/or text) within or adjacent to that bubble.In this way, a system may act like a visual summarization of postedcontent at higher zoom levels. As another example of what happens when auser zooms in on a location, individual bubbles (or other types ofposts) may convey a specific post from a user (which may be designatedfor a specific person or group of people). Further, in some embodimentsa system may simply show only as many bubbles on screen at a given timebased on a user's available screen space. This may prevent the overlapof posted information, making the system easier to use. In someembodiments user's may cycle through which post and/or channel to showand hide as the user's viewport changes. Further, a user's device mayreveal hidden text, allowing those words to unfurl/become visible inresponse to screen real estate becoming available.

Methods discussed herein allow users to get an overall “gist” of totalactivity in a certain area. If bubbles popped up randomly, withoutshowing the total activity in an area, users would be aware ofinformation but never know the total aggregate of human or contentactivity in a specified area. This could be done by showing a heat map,or other visualization methods to show overall system activity. Theplatform may use dots, that even at their most minimum are colored,showing tagged emotional information.

In addition to, or instead of dots and heat maps, Emojis may populate amap to allow contextual information to be shown with little word usage.Emojis enable expression of social posts and bring context to postswithout using words. When combined with bubble UI elements of thelocation-based content platform (and/or sentiment module and/or a moodexpression system), as a whole it allows a user to communicate “what'shappening”, the emotion behind the thought. The system combines thissymbolization selection with mood selectors to bring multiple emotionaland contextual indicators into a post replacing the need for words,which are secondary.

As described herein, in one or more embodiments, the system finds themost relevant posts for a given (geographical) area and lists them inorder of importance (e.g., gives them an importance value as compared toother posts). The system can then add those posts to a map in order ofimportance. If any post would fall on top of another post, then it maynot be displayed or vanish. This ensures that only the most relevantposts are displayed and are never hidden or cluttered. The systemdetermines what transformation effect to show (e.g., a fade out vs. anabrupt stop), which bubble items to show, and which form to show at anygiven time based on one or more attributes. Such attributes may include,but are not limited to: a number of votes a post has received, when thepost was posted, how long ago, and/or how many comments the post has.

Integrating emotional or contextual cues and visualizing them as coloror symbolization as part of a single post rather than using words mayenhance a system's capabilities (comprehension) and space requirementsover using words alone.

In some embodiments, posts may be plotted by relevancy (importance scoreorder) which may be determined by:

1) finding all posts with in a view point; and

2) calculating their importance score.

Next, a system may plot them within the view point in their importancescore order, and lower importance posts falling under/overlapping higherpriority posts are not displayed.

In some embodiments, posts/dots shown on the map are state data shown inminimal form. These are viewable in all zoom levels to show the amountor level of activity in a region. These could be heat maps or othervisualization methods showing the amount of total activity in an area.

Further, in some embodiments, a system may track one or more map regionspresented to the user. Based on pan and zoom, it transforms thepresentation of posts from an aggregated radar zoom to individual bubbleUI elements, that pop up, showing state data as individual posts. Poststhat are more important appear as higher priority bubble views. Capturedand aggregated relevancy data can be used to calculate importance.Further, if a system determines that a user may want to be alerted aboutanother area/location/event, the system may cause a display to movewithout the user's input. For example, a system may determine what auser may want to see based on a user's past history, similar users, orby using various machine learning techniques that become better as theyare used more.

The system aggregates relevancy data to calculate a score (importancescore) that determines which post appears first, analogous to thetallest trees getting most of the light.

This symbolization provides greater context using fewer words thanTwitter's 140-word limit. Color provides “tagged” information. Animatedunfurling of posts may show more data based on screen space. In someembodiments animated bubbles may pop in and out based on screen space,display information, and/or whether an event ended. This combines toenable a system to scale a massive amount of content data on screen atonce without becoming overloaded even in a small space such asManhattan, N.Y.

As can now be seen, what might at first might seem like arbitrary designdisplay, is in fact, carefully developed functionality to fix the hardproblem of displaying relevant data from a large set. This functionalityallows for a relevant scalable social network on a map.

Without the popping in and out from the minimal dot form, using oldstyle map pins, for example with respect to the amount of content in anarea such as Manhattan, would quickly overflow a map causing it tobecome unreadable. See, for example, FIG. 3B.

Without the ability to tag state data and symbolization using color,users might only be able to use text to convey their feelings. Twitter's140-character tweets wouldn't work on a map. Further, older aggregationtechniques may lose the context of post at higher zoom levels.

All these functionalities in concert (e.g., the bubbles, which are ableto appear and disappear based on location, the ability to attachsupplemental emotional data using colors, the ability to visualizecontext using symbolization (emojis)) allow for advantageoustransformations of a post, which in another context may simply show upon page 2 of a messaging board.

In one or more embodiments, post data (which may be used interchangeablywith the term post attribute(s)) associated with a post may be displayedon at least one client device. Such post data (as discussed above) mayinclude, but is not limited to: a time and/or date, text, images,videos, a shape connoting location information, information about anarea of a map, related posts, a symbol associated with a post, an emoji,an emoji bubble, a color, a color associated with an emotion. In one ormore embodiments, a post includes post data, which may be displayed on aclient device based at least in part on the screen attributes. Forexample, a particular amount of posts may be shown on the screen of aclient device based on the size of the screen (e.g., the display of theclient device).

FIG. 9B illustrates system 901, which is similar to system 900 butfurther includes a user profile/atlas/channel/layer/social mediapost/post attribute filtering module 907. User profiles, atlases,channels, layers, social media posts, and post attributes are discussedabove, and may be used to reduce and/or increase an amount of postsshown on a display (and may also be referred to as a filter). In one ormore embodiments, a user profile, atlas, channel, and/or layer mayinclude a set of posts (e.g., a user profile, atlas, channel, and/orlayer may filter posts, which may be shown on the display of a clientdevice). Such a set of posts may be related based on attributes of theuser profile, atlas, channel, layer, and/or set of posts social mediaposts, including, but not limited to: a keyword, a tag linkedto/associated with the channel/set of posts, a hashtag, a region, acity, a proximity, a common location, an event, a location, a type oflocation (e.g., a bar, a club, a deli, a sushi restaurant, a stadium, apark), a type of food, a set of social network connections (e.g.,selecting a channel may cause posts from a particular set of networkusers to be displayed on a client device), posts comprising a certainweight (e.g., an amount of upvotes, an amount of downvotes, an aggregateamount of upvotes and downvotes, an amount of comments, an amount ofupvotes of comments of a post, a user's preferences, a time associatedwith comments, and/or a time associated with the post(s). In oneembodiment, a post may be based on a user profile, atlas, channel,and/or layer (e.g., a user may make a post to a certain user profile,atlas, channel, and/or layer), and the user profile, atlas, channel,and/or layer may include a set of posts.

Embodiments may be implemented on a specialized computer system. Thespecialized computing system can include one or more modified mobiledevices (e.g., laptop computer, smart phone, wearables like a smartwatch, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, or other mobiledevice), desktop computers, smart televisions, smart home appliances,electronic kiosk stands, smart automobiles, servers, blades in a serverchassis, or any other type of computing device(s) that include at leastthe minimum processing power, memory, and input and output device(s) toperform one or more embodiments.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented on various mobile ornon-mobile computing devices, regardless of the platform being used. Inone or more embodiments of the invention, as depicted in FIG. 10, amobile device 1000 can be used to create, receive, and/or transmit oneor more sensory memes and/or, more generally, to implement one or moreof the user interface related functionality disclosed herein. The mobiledevice 1000 may include any portable device that provides a userinterface. Examples of mobile devices may include, but are not limitedto, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, personalcommunicators, tablet computers, smartphones, or any other computingdevice. The mobile device 1000 can include one or more processor(s)1002, memory 1004 (e.g., RAM, cache memory, flash memory, etc.), astorage device 1006 (e.g., a hard disk, a solid state drive, an opticaldrive such as a compact disk drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive, aflash memory stick, etc.), a subscriber identification module (SIM) card1008, a speaker 1029, an antenna 1019, a wireless interface 1070, anetwork interface 1032 and numerous other elements and functionalitiestypical of mobile devices (not shown).

The mobile device 1000 may include input means and output means, such asthe keyboard, the receiver 1028, and/or the touch sensitive displaydevice (e.g., a touch liquid crystal display screen) 1020, which permitsa user to perform gestures (e.g., drag, swipe, multi-touch, select,press and hold, etc.) and enter/display keystrokes (including numeric,alphabetic, and other characters, images, or other media types). Otherinput devices may include a camera 1022, a sound recorder 1026, and/orother data recording mechanism. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat these input and output means may take other forms now known orlater developed. Using embodiments of the present invention, a consumermay initiate create, edit, and/or share a video vignette using themobile device 1000.

The form factor and functionality of the mobile device 1000 can vary inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. For example, asdiscussed above, the mobile device 1000 can include one or more sensorydevices (e.g., wearable electronics, biometric, optical, acoustic,mechanical, electrical, etc.) or any combination of devices configuredto perform some or all of the functionality described with regard tosystem herein.

The mobile device 1000 may be connected to a network (e.g., a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or anyother similar type of network) via the antenna 1019, wireless interface1030, and/or network interface 1032. In one or more embodiments of theinvention, the network connection may be facilitated by a wirelessinfrastructure (not shown), including one or more transceiverscooperating to facilitate wireless communications to wireless devices.The wireless infrastructure may include one or more routers, switches,microwave links, base stations, optical fibers, or other similarnetworking hardware or software components. For example, the wirelessinfrastructure may be a paging network, a cellular network, etc. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, the wireless infrastructure mayassociate any message received from a mobile device (1000) with a mobiledevice identifier of the mobile device 1000.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the network connection maybe facilitated by a hardwired or other similar connection using thenetwork interface 1032. For example, the network connection may involvea hardwire connection or short-range wireless connectivity technologywith a second mobile device, a printing mechanism, a scanner, or arecording system.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the gyroscope/accelerometer1034 and haptic actuator 1036 are examples of sensory devices embeddedwithin the mobile device 1000 and usable in the creation and playback ofone or more sensory memes.

FIG. 11 illustrates a computing system 1100 which may include one ormore computer processor(s) 1102, associated memory 1104 (e.g., randomaccess memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory, etc.), one or morestorage device(s) 1106 (e.g., a hard disk, an optical drive such as acompact disk (CD) drive or digital versatile disk (DVD) drive, a flashmemory stick, etc.), and numerous other elements and functionalities.The computer processor(s) 1102 may be an integrated circuit forprocessing instructions. For example, the computer processor(s) may beone or more cores or micro-cores of a processor. The computing system1100 may also include one or more input device(s) 1110, such as atouchscreen, keyboard, mouse, microphone, touchpad, electronic pen, orany other type of input device. Further, the computing system 1100 mayinclude one or more output device(s) 1108, such as a screen (e.g., aliquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, touchscreen, cathode raytube (CRT) monitor, projector, or other display device), a printer,external storage, or any other output device. The computing system 1100may be connected to a network 1114 (e.g., a local area network (LAN), awide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, mobile network, or anyother type of network) via a network interface connection 1118. Theinput and output device(s) may be locally or remotely connected (e.g.,via the network 1112) to the computer processor(s) 1102, memory 1104,and storage device(s) 1106.

One or more elements of the aforementioned computing system 1106 may belocated at a remote location and connected to the other elements over anetwork 1114. Further, embodiments of the invention may be implementedon a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, where each portionof the invention may be located on a subset of nodes within thedistributed system. In one embodiment of the invention, the nodecorresponds to a distinct computing device. Alternatively, the node maycorrespond to a computer processor with associated physical memory. Thenode may alternatively correspond to a computer processor or micro-coreof a computer processor with shared memory and/or resources.

For example, one or more of the software modules disclosed herein may beimplemented in a cloud computing environment. Cloud computingenvironments may provide various services and applications via theInternet. These cloud-based services (e.g., software as a service,platform as a service, infrastructure as a service, etc.) may beaccessible through a Web browser or other remote interface.

One or more elements of the above-described systems (e.g., FIGS. 1 and2) may also be implemented using software modules that perform certaintasks. These software modules may include script, batch, or otherexecutable files that may be stored on a computer-readable storagemedium or in a computing system. These software modules may configure acomputing system to perform one or more of the example embodimentsdisclosed herein. The computer readable program code can be stored,temporarily or permanently, on one or more non-transitory computerreadable storage media. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedia are executable by one or more computer processors to perform thefunctionality of one or more components of the above-described systems(e.g., FIGS. 9A and 9B) and/or flowcharts (e.g., FIG. 8). Examples ofnon-transitory computer-readable media can include, but are not limitedto, compact discs (CDs), flash memory, solid state drives, random accessmemory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmableROM (EEPROM), digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical storage,and any other computer-readable media excluding transitory, propagatingsignals.

While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments usingspecific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagramcomponent, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/orillustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively,using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or anycombination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure ofcomponents contained within other components should be considered asexamples because many other architectures can be implemented to achievethe same functionality.

While various embodiments have been described and/or illustrated hereinin the context of fully functional computing systems, one or more ofthese example embodiments may be distributed as a program product in avariety of forms, regardless of the particular type of computer-readablemedia used to actually carry out the distribution. The embodimentsdisclosed herein may also be implemented using software modules thatperform certain tasks. These software modules may include script, batch,or other executable files that may be stored on a computer-readablestorage medium or in a computing system. These software modules mayconfigure a computing system to perform one or more of the exampleembodiments disclosed herein. One or more of the software modulesdisclosed herein may be implemented in a cloud computing environment.Cloud computing environments may provide various services andapplications via the Internet. These cloud-based services (e.g.,software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as aservice, etc.) may be accessible through a Web browser or other remoteinterface. Various functions described herein may be provided through aremote desktop environment or any other cloud-based computingenvironment.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Embodiments described herein may be discussed in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions residing on some form ofcomputer-readable storage medium, such as program modules, executed byone or more computers or other devices. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable storage media may comprise non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media and communication media; non-transitorycomputer-readable media include all computer-readable media except for atransitory, propagating signal. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.The functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributedas desired in various embodiments.

It is understood that a “set” can include one or more elements. It isalso understood that a “subset” of the set may be a set of which all theelements are contained in the set. In other words, the subset caninclude fewer elements than the set or all the elements of the set(i.e., the subset can be the same as the set).

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised thatdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing location information on asocial network, comprising: a computer processor; and a social mappingmodule executing on the computer processor and configured to enable thecomputer processor to: receive, from a client device, a firsttransmission including a first selection of a first channel including atleast a portion of a map, wherein the first transmission includes afirst identification of a selecting user account of the social network,and wherein the first channel is configured to access a first layer, andwherein the first layer includes a first set of social media posts;receive, from the client device, a second transmission including asecond selection of a second channel including at least a portion of amap, wherein the second transmission includes a second identification ofthe selecting user account of the social network, and wherein the secondchannel is configured to access a second layer, and wherein the secondlayer includes a second set of social media posts; apply, by thecomputer processor, a linking operation to link the first channel andthe second channel to generate an aggregated channel configured toaccess the first layer and the second layer; receive, from the clientdevice, a request for the aggregated channel; and provide, in responseto the request, the aggregated channel for display by the client device.2. The system of claim 1, wherein providing the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device includes providing the first layer accessedby the first channel and the first set of social media posts included inthe first layer, and providing the second layer accessed by the secondchannel and the second set of social media posts included in the secondlayer.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein subsequent changes to the firstchannel and the second channel are represented in the aggregatedchannel.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the social mapping moduleexecuting on the computer processor is further configured to enable thecomputer processor to remove duplicate social media posts from theaggregated channel for display by the client device.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the social mapping module executing on the computerprocessor is further configured to enable the computer processor to:receive, from the client device, a third selection of a third channel,wherein the third channel is configured to access a third layer, andwherein the third layer includes a third set of social media posts; andapply, by the computer processor, a linking operation to link theaggregated channel and the third channel to update the aggregated mapchannel.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selecting user accountcreated the first channel and the second channel.
 7. The system of claim1, wherein a social media posts are included in both the first set ofsocial media posts and second set of social media posts.
 8. A method fordisplaying portions of a social network, comprising: receiving, from aclient device, a first transmission including a first selection of afirst channel including at least a portion of a map, wherein the firsttransmission includes a first identification of a selecting user accountof the social network, and wherein the first channel is configured toaccess a first layer, and wherein the first layer includes a first setof social media posts; receiving, from the client device, a secondtransmission including a second selection of a second channel includingat least a portion of a map, wherein the second transmission includes asecond identification of the selecting user account of the socialnetwork, and wherein the second channel is configured to access a secondlayer, and wherein the second layer includes a second set of socialmedia posts; applying, by a computer processor, a linking operation tolink the first channel and the second channel to generate an aggregatedchannel configured to access the first layer and the second layer;receiving, from the client device, a request for the aggregated channel;and providing, in response to the request, the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinproviding the aggregated channel for display by the client deviceincludes providing the first layer accessed by the first channel and thefirst set of social media posts included in the first layer, andproviding the second layer accessed by the second channel and the secondset of social media posts included in the second layer.
 10. The methodof claim 8, wherein subsequent changes to the first channel and thesecond channel are represented in the aggregated channel.
 11. The methodof claim 8, wherein the social mapping module executing on the computerprocessor is further configured to enable the computer processor toremove duplicate social media posts from the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device.
 12. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: receiving, from the client device, a third selection of athird channel, wherein the third channel is configured to access a thirdlayer, and wherein the third layer includes a third set of social mediaposts; and applying, by the computer processor, a linking operation tolink the aggregated channel and the third channel to update theaggregated map channel.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the selectinguser account created the first channel and the second channel.
 14. Themethod of claim 8, wherein a social media posts are included in both thefirst set of social media posts and second set of social media posts.15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising aplurality of instructions for providing location information on a socialnetwork, the instructions configured to execute on at least one computerprocessor to enable the computer processor to: receive, from a clientdevice, a first transmission including a first selection of a firstchannel including at least a portion of a map, wherein the firsttransmission includes a first identification of a selecting user accountof the social network, and wherein the first channel is configured toaccess a first layer, and wherein the first layer includes a first setof social media posts; receive, from the client device, a secondtransmission including a second selection of a second channel includingat least a portion of a map, wherein the second transmission includes asecond identification of the selecting user account of the socialnetwork, and wherein the second channel is configured to access a secondlayer, and wherein the second layer includes a second set of socialmedia posts; apply, by the computer processor, a linking operation tolink the first channel and the second channel to generate an aggregatedchannel configured to access the first layer and the second layer;receive, from the client device, a request for the aggregated channel;and provide, in response to the request, the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 15, wherein providing the aggregated channel fordisplay by the client device includes providing the first layer accessedby the first channel and the first set of social media posts included inthe first layer, and providing the second layer accessed by the secondchannel and the second set of social media posts included in the secondlayer.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim15, wherein subsequent changes to the first channel and the secondchannel are represented in the aggregated channel.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein thesocial mapping module executing on the computer processor is furtherconfigured to enable the computer processor to remove duplicate socialmedia posts from the aggregated channel for display by the clientdevice.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim15, wherein the social mapping module executing on the computerprocessor is further configured to enable the computer processor to:receive, from the client device, a third selection of a third channel,wherein the third channel is configured to access a third layer, andwherein the third layer includes a third set of social media posts; andapply, by the computer processor, a linking operation to link theaggregated channel and the third channel to update the aggregated mapchannel.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 15, wherein the selecting user account created the first channeland the second channel.